Method and machine for gluing and folding paper boxes



Dec. 5, 1950 F H U S 2,532,479

METHOD AND MACHINE FOR GLUING AND FOLDING PAPER BOXES Filed Jan. 8, 1947 I 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR.

Frank lffluryess Dec. 5, 1950 F. H. BURGESS 2,532,479

METHOD AND MACHINE FOR GLUING AND FOLDING PAPER BOXES INVENTOR. Frank H.Bur ess X. III M Dec. 5, 1950 Filed Jan. 8, 1947 F. H. BURGESS METHOD AND MACHINE FOR GLUING AND FOLDING PAPER BOXES 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. Frank H. Bwyess F. H. BURGESS 2,532,479 METHOD AND MACHINE FOR GLUING AND FOLDING PAPER BOXES Dec. 5, 1950 Filed Jan. 8, 1947 e Sheets-Sheet 4 IN VEN TOR.

Franli HBur e-ss A190 rn Dec. 5, 1950 F H. auREss 2,532,419

METHOD AND MACHINE FOR GLUING AND FOLDING PAPER BOXES Filed Jan. 8, 1947 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. Frank H.Bur ess Dec. 5, 1950 F H BURGESS 2,532,479

METHOD AND MACHINE FOR GLUING AND FOLDING PAPER BOXES Filed Jan. 8, 1947 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR- 2 2. FranK H. Bar ess Afforngy.

Patented Dec. 5, 1950 METHOD AND MACHINE FOR GLUING AND FOLDING PAPER BOXES Frank H. Burgess, Philadelphia, Pa.

Application January 8, 1947, Serial No. 720,803

8 Claims.

1 The object of the invention is to provide improvements in the method of forming boxes from any suitable thickness of relatively stiff paper, light-weight flexible cardboard and such materials, whether of fibrous nature or plastic, and

hereinafter referred to in the broadest sense by the term paper and paper blanks.

Another object is to provide an improved machine for carrying out the method above referred to.

Starting with a box blank comprising a central section, two oppositely positioned side sections, two intervening oppositely positioned end sections, and corner flaps comprising an integral extension of each of the opposite ends of each of said end sections, the improved method consists in depressing said central section between spaced pairs of rolls, while slightly in advance thereof said corner flaps pass over and in contact with glue rolls that simultaneously deflect said flaps upwardly, then continuing the downward movement of said central section past two oppositely positioned aligned stationary folders, that 'defiect the opposite ends of said central portion inwardly to form temporary gussets, while said flaps are thereby moved into position between the opposite ends of said side sections, and then passing the entire blank in folded position between compression rolls that cause said flaps to adhere to said side sections as said blank is fully collapsed, after which upon the glue of said flaps drying said collapsed blank is opened into extended position or shape, forming a five-walled box open at the top.

With the objects thus briefly stated, the inventions comprise further details of construction and operation, which are hereinafter fully brought out in the following description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view showing the movement of a box blank from a stack or magazine to position beneath the depressing plungers; Fig. 2 is a plan of the initially scored flat blank before entering the machine; Figs. 3 and 4 are respectively end and front elevations of the plungers and the uppermost forming rolls in operation upon a blank; Fig. 5 shows the blank after its flaps have been deflected upwardly by the glue rolls; Figs. 6 and '7 are respectively end and front elevations of the blank as it continues downwardly between the glue rolls and a second set of rolls which deflect the side sections upwardly, as the central section is loosely'folded into a V-shape; Fig. 8 shows the blank as it leaves said second set of rolls and passes between fixedly positioned folder blades; Fig. 9 is front elevation of the same; Fig. 10 is a plan view of the blank after it has been acted upon by said folder blades; Figs. 11 and 12 are respectively end and front elevations of the blank after leaving the folder blades and as it passes between compression rolls that cause the glued flaps to uniformly adhere to the said sections; Figs. 13 and 14 are plan views of the blank in successive positions, the first being just before and the latter just after it has passed between said compression rolls; Fig. 15 is a side elevation of the machine used to effect the steps just referred to; Fig. 16 is a front elevation of the same, all of Figs. 1 to 16 being schematic in nature; Fig. 17 is an enlarged perspective view of the box blank partly folded shape but slightly prior to its flaps being attached to its side sections; Fig. 18 is a similar view but showing the blank in its final condition of forming a one-piece hollow box having its top open; Fig. 19 is a plan view of a machine comprising one embodiment of the invention; Fig. 2G is a side elevation of the same; Fig. 21 is a right end elevation of the same; Fig. 22 is a somewhat similar view to Fig. 21 but showing the mechanism for actuating the plungers hereinbefore referred to and shown schematically in Figs. 3, l, 6, 7, 8 and 9' Fig. 23 is aplan view of the especially designed glue applying mechanism; and Fig. 24 is a side elevation of the same.

Referring initially to Figs. 1? and 18, a box blank is first shown as foldedand approaching final assembled position, and then shown as forming the finished box. In each of these figures the blank and the box are shown as comprising a bottom section 5, end walls 2 and side walls 3; also a lid flap 3' of one or more sections hingedly connected to one side wall 3. The bottom is initially folded along a central longitudinal score line 55, while the opposite end portions of said bottom are at first folded inwardly along divergent score lines 5 in conjunction with a cen-' trally positioned score line 6 that is a continuation of the line s, but in each case representing a fold in the opposite direction, said last-mentioned score lines 6 continuing transversely across the end walls 2, each of said end walls being provided with initially oppositely projecting flaps or ears l, that finally align themselves in parallel relation with and against the adjacent portions of the said side walls to which they are glued, as hereinafter described.

With this introductor explanation of the essential parts of the box blank, the same is shown in extended position in Fig. 2, in which shape it is when as in Fig. 1 it is at first stacked in considerable numbers at 3 upon adjustable sloping surface 9 upwardly of a suitable release and feed roller if), provided with means at ii for starting movement of the next outwardly exposed blank upon each rotation of said roller. Following its initial impulse by said roller, the blank is caught and propelled by cooperating rollers ii at one end of spaced parallel bars l3, between which the blank slides until its movement by narrow parallel belts i3 is arrested by a stop it. At this point said blank is acted upon by descending plungers first shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

These plungers comprise two types, namely, end plungers l5 and an elongated central plunger I6, which act partly in sequence rather than in synchronism, for while they start downwardly together the end plungers start their return upward movement ahead of the central plunger.

In Figs. 3 and c all plungers are shown as l'l'lOV- ing together downwardly, the said end plungers operating to depress the blank as a unit, except for the end cars l which are caught by glue rollers II, that receive liquid adhesive from reservoirs l8, and deflected angularly upwardly as the blank passes them.

Said end plungers then start their upward return stroke, while the central plunger continues downward, carrying the blank bent along the central line l between a second set of rollers IS, that are closer together than the glue rollers, and said second set of rollers being centrally positioned out of alignment with the already glued ears 1 (Figs. 6 and '7). As the blank continues downwardly under the force of said central wardly, thereby releasing the blank from said plunger and permitting it to be propelled by and between oppositely positioned, downwardly converging webs or belts, which pass between vertically spaced horizontal pairs of rolls 23, characterized by decreasing degrees of separation as they progress downwardly. Thus, the blank is gradually pressed together in flattened position (Figs. 15 and 16), during which time the glued ears I are secured uniformly to the side walls 3. In time as the now thoroughly secured blank leaves the Webs or bolts 22 at the point 2Q, it is preferably caught by a conveyor belt 25 and carried to any desired position, where it may be stored for a time or may be at once opened and extended to assume the predetermined box shape shown in Fig. 18, it being understood that the relatively heavy thickness of the blank as shown in the drawings is due to the difficulty of showing its true relative thickness, especially in such figures as Figs. 10, 13 and 14. In the same manner, and b merely adjusting the proper parts of the forming machine, box tops are formed which when inverted will satisfactorily serve as tops for boxes represented by that shown in Fig. 18.

Referring to Figs. 19, 20, 21 and 22, the mechanism represented merely schematically in Figs. 1 to 16 is shown as a composite operable whole, but with details of minor importance omitted for the sake of clarity, as for example, bearings, ressure roll adjustments and the like for adapting the machine to blanks and boxes of a wide range in size. Any suitable foundation framework may be employed to support the series of rolls shown in Fig. 15 and the different types of plungers hereinbefore described, but throughout the principle of Operation remains substantially the same, without material alteration of the method of forming the box and the top from suitable blanks.

The side plungers 55 are actuated vertically by a lever, to which they are connected by a link 2'5, a medial point of said lever being provideo. with a longitudinally adjustable fulcrum support 28, while its opposite or outermost end is connected to a link 23 that rises and falls in accordance with the cam surface of a rotary element 39, which is connected by a belt ill (or other suitable means) to a second such element 32, whose cam surface controls the vertical motion of a second such link 33, whose lower end engages the outer end of a second lever mounted upon an adjustable fulcrum 35, so that the inner end of this latter lever rises and falls in such periodical relationship with said first lever as to properly control the central plunger It, to which it is connected by means of a link t.

The original blank is fed to the machine in the direction indicated by the arrow 3'! of Fig. 1.9, and the folded blank leaves the machine by way of the arrow 38. It is to be noted that although not shown in detail in every instance, each of the rolls herein referred to is provided with means for both adjusting its position with respect to its companion rolls and also the tension with which it engages the blank, as the latter passes along its prescribed course. Furthermore, all of the drive and conveyor belts may be driven by a single power source, or may be separately driven as desired, but to include all of the interconnecting shafts and/or belts for transmitting such motion between those shown, it is believed would unneces sarily complicate the drawings and add substantially to the number of figures required to illustrate them.

Referring to Figs. 23 and 24, a detail of the glue reservoir is. shown as comprising the pan is having side walls which support brackets 50, between which extends a glue roll ll whose cylindrical surface passes during rotation beneath the surface of liquid glue in said pan, and thereafter transfers a portion of the glue picked up therefrom to the rolls ll hereinbefore referred to. This pan is adjustably and removably supported in any suitable manner by the framework above referred to, but is here shown as being provided upon its under side with a dovetail sliding member d2 that cooperates with a corresponding member positioned adjacent to the path of the blanks as it passes through the machine. These pans are adjusted with respect to each other by means of right and left hand screws 53, which pass through suitably threaded bores M in them, to provide for gluing the ears of blanks of widely different sizes. Preferably also the said pan is provided with a bracket extension 45 that supports a shaft and pulley 46, from which latter a belt or sprocket chain extends to a pulley l? carried by the shaft of the glue roll ii.

In conclusion it should be understood that the improved method herein described is not dependent upon the exact construction of machine illustrated and hereinbefore described, but may be carried out with other machines that provide for the performance of the several steps in the proper sequence, in short to provide a, five-walled box, either without or with a hinged lid extension or flap projecting from and forming an integral continuation of one of the side walls or a box top of whatever proportions may be desired and of good appearance and structure.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A machine for folding and gluing paper box blanks, said blanks comprising bottom portions, side walls, end walls and oppositely projecting ears extending from two of said walls, which machine comprises pairs of spaced glue-applying means, plungers to force a blank between said glue-applying means so that glue is applied to the blanks ears and said ears are simultaneously folded angularly from the plane of the blank, whereby they are capable of being folded between said intervening walls, a spaced pair of blank bottom-folding rolls, a pair of pilot rolls, a central plunger to successively force the blank between and past said folding and pilot rolls, a pair of oppositely inwardly extending stationary folders to reversely fold as gussets the ends of the blank inwardly and the blanks ears between its other walls, and means to thereaftercompress the blank so that the glued ears adhere to the blanks intervening walls.

2. A machine for folding and gluing paper box blanks, said blanks comprising bottom portions, side walls, end walls and oppositely projecting ears extending from two of said walls, which machine comprises pairs of spaced glue-applying means, plungers to force a blank between said glue-applying means so that glue is applied to the blanks ears and said ears are simultaneously folded angularly from the plane of the blank, whereby they are capable of being folded between said intervening walls, a spaced pair of blank bottom-folding rolls, a pair of pilot rolls, a central plunger to successively force the blank between and past said folding and pilot rolls, a pair of oppositely inwardly extending stationary folders to reversely fold as gussets the ends of the blank inwardly and the blanks ears between its other walls, and means to receive the folded blank from said pilot rolls and compress it with gradually increasing pressure so that the glued ears adhere to the blanks intervening walls.

3. A machine for folding and gluing paper box blanks, said blanks comprising bottom portions, side walls, end walls and oppositely projecting ears extending from two of said walls, which machine comprises pairs of spaced glue-applying means, plungers to force a blank between said glue-applying means so that glue is applied to the blanks ears and said ears are simultaneously folded angularly from the plane of the blank, whereby they are capable of being folded between said intervening walls, a spaced pair of blank bottom-folding rolls, a pair of pilot rolls, a central plunger to successively force the blank between and past said folding and pilot rolls, a pair of oppositely inwardly extending stationary folders to reversely fold as gussets the ends of the blank inwardly and the blanks ears between its other walls, and a series of pairs of spaced rolls having gradually decreasing distances between central section, two oppositely positioned side sections, two intervening oppositely positioned end sections, and corner ears comprising integral extensions of each of the opposite ends of each of a pair of opposed walls, the method of folding and gluing the blank which consists in forcing the blank between glue-applying and ear-bending means in alignment with the pairs of ears, continuing the movement of the blank between a pair of folding rolls, then between a pair of aligned stationary folders that deflect the opposite end portions of the blank inwardly to form gussets, and the glued ears between the opposite ends of the side sections, then applying gradually increased pressure to the entire folded blank to cause the ears to adhere to said side sections and thereby provide a collapsed five-walled box.

,5. A machine for folding and gluing paper box blanks, said blanks comprising bottom portions, side walls, end walls and oppositely projecting ears extending from an opposed pair of said walls separated by intervening walls, which machine comprises pairs of spaced glue-applying means, plungers to force a blank between said glue-applying means so that glue is applied to the blanks ears and said ears are simultaneously folded angularly from the plane of the blank, whereby they are capable of being folded between intervening walls, a spaced pair of blank bottomfolding rolls, a pair of pilot rolls, a central plunger to successively force the blank between and past said folding and pilot rolls, a pair of oppositely inwardly extending stationary folders to reversely fold as gussets the ends of the blank inwardly and the blanks ears between said intervening walls, and means to thereafter compress the blank to cause the glued ears to adhere to the blanks said intervening walls.

6. A machine for folding andgluing paper box blanks, said'blanks comprising bottom portions, side walls, end walls and oppositely projecting ears extending from an opposed pair of said walls separated by intervening walls, which machine comprises pairs of spaced glue-applying means, plungers to force a blank between said glueapplying means so that glue is applied to the blanks ears and said ears are simultaneously folded angularly from the plane of the blank whereby they are capable of being folded between the intervening walls, a spaced pair of blank bottom-folding rolls, a pair of pilot rolls, a central plunger to successively force the blank between and past said folding and pilot rolls, a pair of oppositely inwardly extending stationary folders to reversely fold as gussets the ends of the blank inwardly and the blanks ears between said them, and webs passing said series of rolls and operative to convey a folded blank received from said. pilot rolls between them to thereby compress the folded blank with graduall increasing pressure to cause the glued ears to adhere to the blanks intervening walls.

4. Having a paper box blank consisting of a intervening walls, and means to receive the folded blank from said pilot rolls and compress it with gradually increasing pressure to cause the glued ears to adhere to the blanks intervening walls.

'7. A machine for folding and gluing paper box blanks, said blanks comprising bottom portions, side walls, end walls and oppositely projecting ears extending from an opposed pair of said walls separated by intervening walls which machine comprises pairs of glue-applying means, plungers to force a blank between said glue-applying rolls so that glue is applied to the blanks ears and said ears are simultaneously folded angularly from the plane of he blank, a spaced pair of bottomfolding rolls, a pair of pilot rolls, a central plunger to successively force the blank between and past said folding and pilot rolls, a pair of oppositely inwardly extending stationary folders to reversely fold as gussets the ends of the blank inwardly and the blanks ears between its intervening walls, and a plurality of pairs of spaced rolls having gradually decreasing distance between them, and webs passing said series of rolls and operative to convey a folded blank received from said pilot rolls between them to thereby compress the folded blank with gradually increasing pressure to cause the glued ears to adhere to the blanks intervening walls.

8. Having a paper box blank consisting of a 10 tions, folded said side and end sections angularly with respect to the central sections, then folding 8" the central portions of the opposite endvsections inwardly to form gussets, folding the glued ears between the end portions of the intervening sections, and applying gradually increasing pressure to the entire folded blank, to cause the ears to adhere to said intervening sections and provide a collapsed five-walled box.

FRANK H. BURGESS.

REFERENCES CITED ihe following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 15 Number Name Date 611,252 Holcomb Sept. 27, 1898 1,444,004 Novick Feb. 6, 1923 2,249,859 Shearer July 22, 1941 

